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Yankees talk on Tuesday, negotiated deal in hand

Published: Friday, October 25, 2013 at 5:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 25, 2013 at 6:54 p.m.

After announcing nearly a year ago it was in discussions with the New York Yankees about the possibility of relocating the Yankees' Class A Advanced affiliate minor league team to Ocala from Tampa, city staff will present an agreement it has negotiated with the Yankees to the City Council at Tuesday's workshop meeting for consideration.

The discussion will include details of a proposed stadium/entertainment complex.

"The meeting next week is simply to wheel the project out to the public's eyes for the first time," City Manager Matthew Brower said. "No action will be taken. We will give a total overview of the project."

Brower outlined the items that will be discussed.

"We will talk about the license agreement, the agreement between the Yankees and city of Ocala. We will talk about the land agreements. We have two of those we will talk about. We will also talk about the feasibility study we did," Brower said.

He said a consultant the city hired will be present to talk at length about the study.

"We will talk about the cost of the project and the funding mechanisms we plan to use and the time line," Brower added.

Brower said the project has been in the works for 2½ years.

"We are going to be excited to bring it, to allow the public to view it and vet it," he said.

Anthony Bruno, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC, said he would be in Ocala on Tuesday.

City Council President Mary Rich said she thinks having a minor league team would be good for Ocala.

"They did a poll," Rich said about the staff. "The poll said the majority of people would like it. I think that's why we went on with it (negotiations)."

Asked about the expense, she said it would not be expensive, but then added, "You know, to build a stadium, it's going to be expensive. But I don't know exactly what they are asking of us ... I do know the county has to own the property. That is state law. So they have to be involved, too."

Mayor Kent Guinn favors the project.

"I think it makes a lot of sense," Guinn said. "It's a good quality-of-life-type venue."

He said the stadium would cost an estimated $45 million, which would include developing the property and providing the infrastructure. It could be paid for with a half-cent sales tax for five years, which would generate about $85 million.

"That's less than $100 a year per household in Marion County," Guinn said. "Twenty percent of it is not even paid for by people that live here."

The sales tax would have to be put on a referendum for voters to decide. The County Commission would have to approve putting the measure on the ballot. Guinn said the city and county could share the cost of the special election. He said the referendum could be done at a special election in March.

If all the pieces fell into place, the stadium could be open for the 2016 baseball season.

"My position as an elected official: I think it's important to give people the opportunity to decide what they want to do with their money. It's their money," he said. "They should have an opportunity to vote on it."

Guinn said having the Yankees would bring jobs, not only for baseball itself, but he said he believes other companies will locate in Ocala.

And it could attract people driving by who could see the stadium from Interstate 75. He said a site being considered is behind the Heath Brook development.

Asked why the Yankees would want to come here, he said that Tampa has multiple sports venues, such as Yankee spring training, the Rays, Bucs, University of South Florida the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"Minor league Single A baseball is not as big a deal there as here," Guinn said.

As mayor, he cannot vote on the project or agreement. The City Council will make those decisions.

Guinn said retirees from the State Road 200 corridor, from Citrus County, The Villages and Gainesville likely would be attracted to the games.

Councilman John McLeod, also likes the idea of having the Yankees in Ocala.

"From the entertainment, from the jobs creation, the number one sporting franchise in the world — I think it brings another notch in Ocala's belt for quality of life and entertainment."

But he said he does not know if the city can make it all come together.

"That's a moving target still," McLeod said.

Asked if it will be something the community can afford, McLeod said, "That will be up to the citizens at some point. Their input is going to be big in this. That's why we are rolling it out next week, to get citizens' input and the County Commission input."

He said it looks to him that it is heading to the voters.

"I don't think it's any big secret that it's probably going to have to go to some type of referendum at some point," McLeod said. "At some point the (Marion) County Commission has to decide whether they want to do that or not do that."

The commission is the body that decides what questions may be placed on the ballot for the voters to decide.

"That stadium could be used for multiple things, not just minor league baseball," McLeod said.

As far as jobs go, he said there would be about 700 temporary jobs and 300 permanent ones, not including service jobs.

Asked about the salaries, he said, some would be high and some low.

"These players will be living in the community while they are here. Other teams come into town," he said.

The visiting teams, he said, likely would stay overnight in hotels and eat in restaurants and shop in local stores.

"The economic opportunities are probably a little larger than first meets the eye," McLeod said.

If the Yankees want to move their minor league team to Ocala from Tampa it would have to be approved by the Florida State League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball. If other minor league teams would find Ocala too far away and too expensive to travel to and to stay overnight, they could oppose any move.

"This is further, but, then, it's right up I-75," McLeod said about Ocala. "It's not off the beaten path."

But there still is work be done before the ink dries on any agreement.

"We are further along with our negotiations with the team. We brought it this far, but to actually cross the finish line — there's a lot more to do," McLeod said.

Councilman Jay Musleh said he wanted to have the meeting on Tuesday before he comments.

"All things considered, of course, it would be good for Ocala," Musleh said about the Yankees. "What is the price tag going to be? Is it affordable? I have to hear what our plans are to finance it and how we are going to make it happen."

Councilwoman Suzy Heinbockel said she has not seen the agreement.

"My update will be on Tuesday," she said.

But she likes the idea of having the Yankees in Ocala.

"It would be exciting, wouldn't it, to have a minor league baseball team in Ocala?" she asked.

"But the devil is in the details. I don't know what those details are at this point."

<p>After announcing nearly a year ago it was in discussions with the New York Yankees about the possibility of relocating the Yankees' Class A Advanced affiliate minor league team to Ocala from Tampa, city staff will present an agreement it has negotiated with the Yankees to the City Council at Tuesday's workshop meeting for consideration.</p><p>The discussion will include details of a proposed stadium/entertainment complex.</p><p>"The meeting next week is simply to wheel the project out to the public's eyes for the first time," City Manager Matthew Brower said. "No action will be taken. We will give a total overview of the project."</p><p>Brower outlined the items that will be discussed.</p><p>"We will talk about the license agreement, the agreement between the Yankees and city of Ocala. We will talk about the land agreements. We have two of those we will talk about. We will also talk about the feasibility study we did," Brower said.</p><p>He said a consultant the city hired will be present to talk at length about the study.</p><p>"We will talk about the cost of the project and the funding mechanisms we plan to use and the time line," Brower added.</p><p>Brower said the project has been in the works for 2½ years.</p><p>"We are going to be excited to bring it, to allow the public to view it and vet it," he said.</p><p>Anthony Bruno, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Yankee Global Enterprises LLC, said he would be in Ocala on Tuesday.</p><p>City Council President Mary Rich said she thinks having a minor league team would be good for Ocala.</p><p>"They did a poll," Rich said about the staff. "The poll said the majority of people would like it. I think that's why we went on with it (negotiations)."</p><p>Asked about the expense, she said it would not be expensive, but then added, "You know, to build a stadium, it's going to be expensive. But I don't know exactly what they are asking of us ... I do know the county has to own the property. That is state law. So they have to be involved, too."</p><p>Mayor Kent Guinn favors the project.</p><p>"I think it makes a lot of sense," Guinn said. "It's a good quality-of-life-type venue."</p><p>He said the stadium would cost an estimated $45 million, which would include developing the property and providing the infrastructure. It could be paid for with a half-cent sales tax for five years, which would generate about $85 million.</p><p>"That's less than $100 a year per household in Marion County," Guinn said. "Twenty percent of it is not even paid for by people that live here."</p><p>The sales tax would have to be put on a referendum for voters to decide. The County Commission would have to approve putting the measure on the ballot. Guinn said the city and county could share the cost of the special election. He said the referendum could be done at a special election in March.</p><p>If all the pieces fell into place, the stadium could be open for the 2016 baseball season.</p><p>"My position as an elected official: I think it's important to give people the opportunity to decide what they want to do with their money. It's their money," he said. "They should have an opportunity to vote on it."</p><p>Guinn said having the Yankees would bring jobs, not only for baseball itself, but he said he believes other companies will locate in Ocala.</p><p>And it could attract people driving by who could see the stadium from Interstate 75. He said a site being considered is behind the Heath Brook development.</p><p>Asked why the Yankees would want to come here, he said that Tampa has multiple sports venues, such as Yankee spring training, the Rays, Bucs, University of South Florida the Tampa Bay Lightning.</p><p>"Minor league Single A baseball is not as big a deal there as here," Guinn said.</p><p>As mayor, he cannot vote on the project or agreement. The City Council will make those decisions.</p><p>Guinn said retirees from the State Road 200 corridor, from Citrus County, The Villages and Gainesville likely would be attracted to the games.</p><p>Councilman John McLeod, also likes the idea of having the Yankees in Ocala.</p><p>"From the entertainment, from the jobs creation, the number one sporting franchise in the world — I think it brings another notch in Ocala's belt for quality of life and entertainment."</p><p>But he said he does not know if the city can make it all come together.</p><p>"That's a moving target still," McLeod said.</p><p>Asked if it will be something the community can afford, McLeod said, "That will be up to the citizens at some point. Their input is going to be big in this. That's why we are rolling it out next week, to get citizens' input and the County Commission input."</p><p>He said it looks to him that it is heading to the voters.</p><p>"I don't think it's any big secret that it's probably going to have to go to some type of referendum at some point," McLeod said. "At some point the (Marion) County Commission has to decide whether they want to do that or not do that."</p><p>The commission is the body that decides what questions may be placed on the ballot for the voters to decide.</p><p>"That stadium could be used for multiple things, not just minor league baseball," McLeod said.</p><p>As far as jobs go, he said there would be about 700 temporary jobs and 300 permanent ones, not including service jobs.</p><p>Asked about the salaries, he said, some would be high and some low.</p><p>"These players will be living in the community while they are here. Other teams come into town," he said.</p><p>The visiting teams, he said, likely would stay overnight in hotels and eat in restaurants and shop in local stores.</p><p>"The economic opportunities are probably a little larger than first meets the eye," McLeod said.</p><p>If the Yankees want to move their minor league team to Ocala from Tampa it would have to be approved by the Florida State League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball. If other minor league teams would find Ocala too far away and too expensive to travel to and to stay overnight, they could oppose any move.</p><p>"This is further, but, then, it's right up I-75," McLeod said about Ocala. "It's not off the beaten path."</p><p>But there still is work be done before the ink dries on any agreement.</p><p>"We are further along with our negotiations with the team. We brought it this far, but to actually cross the finish line — there's a lot more to do," McLeod said.</p><p>Councilman Jay Musleh said he wanted to have the meeting on Tuesday before he comments.</p><p>"All things considered, of course, it would be good for Ocala," Musleh said about the Yankees. "What is the price tag going to be? Is it affordable? I have to hear what our plans are to finance it and how we are going to make it happen."</p><p>Councilwoman Suzy Heinbockel said she has not seen the agreement.</p><p>"My update will be on Tuesday," she said.</p><p>But she likes the idea of having the Yankees in Ocala.</p><p>"It would be exciting, wouldn't it, to have a minor league baseball team in Ocala?" she asked.</p><p>"But the devil is in the details. I don't know what those details are at this point."</p><p><i>Contact Susan Latham Carr at 867-4156 or susan.carr@starbanner.com.</i></p>